Games of Invictus

Author: Jing Zhe

Do you dare to play a game initiated by a stranger?

1

The street was crowded with people and vehicles when I anxiously waited for Kara outside her office building.

Ding!

A message popped up on my cell phone, saying,

“Our company released a great game, and we’re randomly inviting lucky people to participate. The final winner will get the inheritance right of a four-hundred-million-dollar property! For further information, please call the phone number below.”

There was indeed a number in the message. The message sender was "Paradise Game", and the date was June 6th.

It must be spam!

Did they think they could defraud people of money with such a lame trick?

When I was about to delete the message, I saw Kara's tired figure.

So, I hurriedly walked up to her. Today was her birthday. I had asked for leave and bought a mystery box, intending to surprise her.

She cast an angry look at me, grabbed the mystery box, and slammed it to the ground.

I was stunned to see this and asked, "Don't you like it?"

.

"Eaton, stop deceiving yourself! Do you think you can add a sense of ritual to our love with such a cheap mystery box?"

I anxiously explained, "I'm sorry, Kara! I sent all my salary last month to my family. I have worked overtime for two days without having a rest! I was supposed to get paid on the 15th, but my boss has been seven days in arrear with our salaries. So, I could only buy you a mystery box. Don’t be angry. I promise to give you a big gift when I get paid, okay?”

I had unconsciously bowed my head to life. Now, I could not hold up my head in front of Kara.

"If things continue like this, we can never buy a house," she snapped and turned to leave. When I caught up with her, she shook off my hand and said, "When will we have our own home? When can we have enough money to get married?"

Then, she ran away crying.

But I didn't dare to chase after her. We were both from the countryside. And we had come to the city to fulfill our dreams. But the cruel competition made us farther and farther away from our dreams.

Then, I walked back home with heavy steps. I had been in a good mood because I had thought I could have a rest and make out with Kara. But now, I was depressed. Nowadays, there were many people with Bachelor degrees in the city, so it was hard for fresh graduates like Kara and me to find a job. I was a website programmer and worked overtime every day.

I had sacrificed my money-make time to accompany her, but what I had gotten in return was her cold face. It was because I was a lack of money.

So, I must figure out a way to make a fortune!

2

At one o'clock in the morning, I dragged my tired body back to my shabby rental apartment.

After I took a shower, it was two o'clock. Fortunately, today was Sunday. Thinking that I could sleep until noon, I felt much better.

Ding!

When I received a message on WhatsApp, I hurriedly opened it. Sure enough, the message was from d*mned Gail, saying, “Prepare the materials and go to the company for a meeting at seven tomorrow morning! Reply after you receive the message!”

It was two o'clock in the morning, but she still wanted me to reply! Common people would have long fallen asleep!

I cursed, “She is insane!”

Gail was the owner of our company. She had just started her business and was always energetic, intending to squeeze all the employees to the extreme! I was in a bad mood because of the fight with Kara, so I didn't want to reply.